Measurements of formaldehyde concentrations in a human anatomy lab compared to internatonal standards

Authors

  • Ernesto Hurtado Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador
  • Andrea Vallecampo Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador
  • Karen de Liévano Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador
  • Beatriz de Artiga Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador
  • Guadalupe Vásquez Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5377/creaciencia.v11i1-2.6036

Keywords:

Human Anatomy Lab, formaldehyde, air, El Salvador.

Abstract

Introduction. The Human Anatomy Laboratory has corpses that have been subjected to the process of tissue fixation and conservation by the application of 10 % Formaldehyde, a toxic and carcinogenic substance for humans as stipulated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to which students, professors and technicians are exposed. The purpose of this research was to measure formaldehyde concentrations in the environment within the facilities of a Human Anatomy Laboratory and compare them with international labor standards. Methodology. The study design was cross-sectional with a descriptive approach The sample of the study was of 640 measurements made with hal-hfx105 HalTech digital apparatus and applying the technical norm of prevention ntp 587, validated for the determination of organic gases and vapors in the air inside the laboratory. Results. The average formaldehyde concentrations estimated in general within the facilities of the Anatomy Laboratory was 0.24 ppm. conclusion. The average concentration of formaldehyde found in the present study is lower than the profesional exposure limit estimated by the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (acgih), whose value tlv-twa (Threshold Limit Value-Time Weighted Average) for a working day of 8 hours and a week of 40 hours, and as a máximum limit to the concentrations that any worker can be exposed day after day without adverse effects, is 0.3 ppm.

CREA CIENCIA Vol. 11 No 1-2 ISSN 1818-202X enero-diciembre 2017, p. 7-13

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Author Biographies

Ernesto Hurtado, Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador

Jefe del Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina

Andrea Vallecampo, Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador

Docente titular del Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina

Karen de Liévano, Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador

Docente titular del Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina

Beatriz de Artiga, Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador

Docente titular del Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina

Guadalupe Vásquez, Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador

Docente titular del Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina

Published

2017-12-27

How to Cite

Hurtado, E., Vallecampo, A., de Liévano, K., de Artiga, B., & Vásquez, G. (2017). Measurements of formaldehyde concentrations in a human anatomy lab compared to internatonal standards. Revista Científica Crea Ciencia, 11(1-2), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.5377/creaciencia.v11i1-2.6036

Issue

Section

Research Articles